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US to lift sanctions on Belarus potash
US to lift sanctions on Belarus potash
London, 13 December (Argus) — US sanctions on trade in Belarusian potash are to be lifted, easing its return to open trading. The announcement was made today by US envoy to Belarus John Coale after a series of talks with Belarus president Aleksandr Lukashenko and is, on the surface, linked to the release of political prisoners by Belarus. No formal update has yet been made to the US Treasury's sanctions database. Current US sanctions specifically designate Belaruskali, Belarus Potash Company (BPC) and Slavkali. Removing US sanctions will make it significantly easier to trade in Belarusian potash for companies around the world. A major exception, though, is the EU which has not shown any sign yet of lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash trade. This marks a significant break from the previous coordination between the US, EU and UK on Belarusian sanctions . Belarus has, despite the sanctions imposed in 2021, exported significant quantities of MOP in recent years — it is on track to export 12mn tonnes this year, over 10pc more than last year — due to creative paperwork and lax enforcement of the sanctions. By Bede Heren Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Quebec government OKs phosphate mining permit extension
Quebec government OKs phosphate mining permit extension
Houston, 12 December (Argus) — The Government of Quebec extended the validity of Canada-based Arianne Phosphate's development approval for two more years while the emerging phosphate mining company pursues a longer extension request for its project in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Arianne's Lac à Paul project was granted its initial development in December 2015 from the Quebec government with a valid period of 10 years. The project aims to develop phosphate deposits that will produce a "high-quality" igneous apatite concentrate grading 39pc P2O5 with little to no contaminants, according to Arianne. The Quebec minister will use the two-year period to consider Arianne's request for up to a five-year development extension. Conversations between Arianne and the Ministry of Environment began in 2024 for a permit extension, where several required studies were submitted, the company said. "This extension provides the industry and potential partners with the comfort they need to advance the project's development and address the need for this critical mineral," chief operating officer Raphael Gaudreault said. The Lac à Paul project is the only fully permitted greenfield phosphate project in North America. The phosphate deposit's igneous rock allows for easy transformation of its high-purity, low contaminant phosphate concentrate into purified phosphoric acid, a necessary ingredient for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, Arianne said. By Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Seized oil tanker likely heading to Houston
Seized oil tanker likely heading to Houston
New York, 12 December (Argus) — The US-seized oil tanker Skipper, carrying Venezuelan oil, is en route to Houston, Texas, according to data from oil analytics firm Vortexa. If Houston is the very-large crude carrier's final destination, it will likely discharge the 1.9mn bls of Merey crude it is carrying via lightering offshore since Houston-area ports are too shallow to allow such a large ship dock to offload at an onshore terminal. The US seized the falsely-flagged Skipper on 10 December for its alleged involvement in smuggling Iranian oil to support Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard. But the seizure is widely seen as an extension of ongoing efforts by the US to pressure the Venezuelan government over the flow of drugs from the country. The US said it intends to seize other tankers on existing sanctions lists that are carrying Venezuelan crude. The US has stationed a large naval force in the waters near Venezuela since September as part of an effort ostensibly aimed at stopping waterborne drug shipments. The seizure of the Skipper has not had any clear effect on freight or crude markets so far, but more seizures and Caracas' response could change that. The US tried to pressure Iran through ship seizures from 2019-24, seizing a total of nine tankers, including four vessels in 2020 that were due to deliver Iranian gasoline cargoes to Venezuela. The US discontinued the practice because Tehran retaliated by seizing tankers passing through or near the strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Mideast Gulf. Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro's government calls the seizure of the Skipper "an act of international piracy", but Caracas may not have the same capability to retaliate as Tehran. It could block loadings by Chevron, which is importing oil to the US under a sanctions waiver that the US reissued in August. Exports to the US, shipped under Chevron's waiver, stood at about 130,000 b/d in November, down from 150,000 b/d in October. By Charlotte Bawol and Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s energy demand falls on economic slowdown
Japan’s energy demand falls on economic slowdown
Osaka, 12 December (Argus) — Japan's energy consumption in the April 2024-March 2025 fiscal year fell again from a year earlier, pressured by slower industry activity. The country's 2024-25 final energy use totalled 292mn kiloliters, or 1.84bn bl of oil equivalent (boe), down by 1.7pc from a year earlier, according to preliminary data released on 12 December by the trade and industry ministry Meti. This marks the third consecutive annual decline. Coal use in final energy consumption fell by 3.7pc from a year earlier to 172mn boe in 2024-25, while oil demand declined by 3.7pc to 841mn boe. This came as energy consumption in the manufacturing and transportation sectors declined by 3.2pc to 766mn boe, and by 1.5pc to 445mn boe respectively. But demand for natural gas and city gas rose by 1.5pc from a year earlier to 167mn boe. Power demand also edged up by 1pc to 517mn boe. Coal-fired power generation edged up by 0.9pc to 283.4TWh during the period, while oil- and gas-fired power dropped by 2.7pc to 71TWh and by 2.4pc to 315.7TWh. Zero-emission power supplies, including renewables and nuclear power, rose by 3.9pc to 322.1TWh. Japan's energy-derived CO2 emissions fell by 1.4pc from a year earlier to 908mn t in 2024-25, supported by the increased use of renewable and nuclear power supplies. The 2024-25 emissions represented a 26pc fall compared with the country's 2013-14 baseline, or the lowest level since 1990-91. The lower energy consumption, as well as increased use of domestic renewable and nuclear energy, helped lift Japan's energy self-sufficiency rate to 16.4pc in 2024-25, up by 1.1 percentage points from a year earlier, based on International Energy Agency methodology. By Motoko Hasegawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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